#what does it mean to be shrewd as serpents

[walkswithmyfather]

“Behold, I send you out as sheep amongst wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” —Matthew 10:16 (WEB)

“What does Matthew 10:16 mean?” By Bibleref.com:

“Jesus is sending His twelve hand-picked disciples out to be apostles; this word literally means “sent ones.” They have a specific mission: proclaim the coming of the kingdom of heaven from town to town in the region of Galilee (Matthew 10:5–8).

Here, Jesus begins to describe a longer-term mission. Most likely, in this moment, the disciples would not likely have fully understood that. What Christ refers to here will mostly happen after His death, resurrection, and return to heaven. During the Last Supper, Jesus will provide similar warnings and encouragements (John 15:18–20; 16:1–4).

The metaphor Christ uses here is a striking picture. Elsewhere, Jesus spoke of Himself as the “Good Shepherd” who would die to protect His flock (John 10:11), specifically from attacking wolves (John 10:12–14). The radical difference between believers in Christ and the rest of the world is captured in the symbolism of being sheep “sent” into the midst of wolves. At first, this may seem contradictory: a literal shepherd's job is to keep sheep away from danger. Jesus, though, has empowered this group of twelve men to act on His behalf; they will be equipped to face the dangers that come with such actions.

Jewish people would have been used to thinking of themselves as sheep surrounded by Gentile wolves. Jesus, though, is claiming this metaphor for His followers. They will face both Jewish and Gentile wolves as they do the dangerous work of declaring Jesus and His kingdom to the world.

In the culture of this time, snakes were symbolic of shrewdness and cunning. Doves were so innocent as to often seem completely clueless to danger. Jesus tells His followers to exercise whatever wise shrewdness they can to avoid conflict and danger without losing the dove-like innocence that will allow them to continue to proclaim the truth without fear. It will be a hard balance to keep, but it will be necessary for the mission to be successful.

While these words are spoken to a unique group of men, they still have meaning for Christian believers, today. Jesus does not endorse naïve, shallow belief. Nor does He allow believers to be bitter cynics or spiritual brawlers. Other passages of Scripture reemphasize the need for Christians to be both informed and sensible in their spiritual lives (1 Peter 3:15–16; Colossians 2:8).”

[jskim2112]

Stop this train

I want to get off and go home again

I can’t take the speed it’s moving in

I know I can’t

But honestly, won’t someone stop this train?

It’s been a minute since I’ve written anything other than emails and to-do lists. So here goes nothing…

I’ve been feeling pretty existential these days… the past 12 months, really. There’s a lot going on at church, work, family, friendships, and I’m just barely able to process it all at the speed of a Pentium II Processor (for reference, it came out in 1997).

My best friend (weird label) and prayer warrior sister of 12 years moved away last month after 3 sweet years of being in the same city again.

My church is figuring out identity-level mission and vision questions at every level from the individual to the collective and everything in between.

My mom is turning 60 in a few months. In Korean culture, the 60th birthday is called a Hwangap and used to hold (still does? Probably not…) great significance due to the shorter life expectancy of that time. My mom’s 60th birthday means a lot to me moreso because she recently admitted to me that after my dad died, she used to pray that God give her the strength to live just two more years so that she could send her youngest child off to college. But that recently she has started to pray that God give her the health to live as long as he wills because she has come to enjoy this life he has given her. My mom has lived through a lot of trauma in her life… and I mean more than the average immigrant parent of that generation. I want the world for her and know that turning 60 is just another year closer to the inevitable. As E and I continue to consider a life of m work, how do I balance being a loving and dutiful daughter to both my earthly parent and also my heavenly one?

My husband and I are coming out of the tectonic shock of two sinners coming together to die to each other and reflect Christ to one another. And are thoughtfully continuing to pray through what or where He is calling us to. Oh, and trying to think through our family planning timeline.

As I think a lot of the future, I wonder a lot about who I want my kids to be. What I want them to become. I think of my friends who genuinely love the Lord and live “average” lives. They are not the top [earthly] earners amongst my friends but I know the treasures they must be storing in heaven are magnificent. I want my kids to be like them. Kind, gentle, sharp and shrewd as serpents, innocent as doves, smart, capable, strong, and meek. I’d like to think public school, homeschooling in foreign countries, sacrificially living, and having a strong marriage are enough. But so much seems undetermined and out of our control. We won’t know until we get there. So I sit in that tension of trust and also being prepared. As I oscillate between the two, I get frustrated that E is a lot more “go with the flow” kind of guy and not as internally conflicted as I am. Deep down, I know he is thoughtful in his own way and just expresses it differently than I do.

I want to post something on IG that shows all of these thoughts and the ones I haven’t even begun to process, like Tim Keller’s death. But I know that’s not the place for this stuff… and so I just don’t end up posting anything.

What is it that I want to post? Something that captures what? If I could sum it up in bullet points…

Life is weird.

I miss my friends (DC in TX, TH in NY). I’m super thankful for the friends I have locally. I know these are lifelong friends that know no physical bounds. Can’t wait to have coffee in heaven and catch up on life.

Gratitude. I’ve been feeling really thankful lately.

Choice……… the paradox of choice, the illusion of control, the paralysis by analysis…

I just want my kids to be smart and kind. And strong.

I used to want to speed up life. And now I’m not quite wanting to slow it down or stop the train necessarily… but I am definitely swallowing a lot of air due to my open mouth and the speed it is going.

Man, I am really out of practice in putting my words onto paper and organizing my thoughts coherently.

I found this article while I was looking up the lyrics of “Stop This Train” by John Mayer.

And it is an excellent article that resonates within my bones. I thought about writing something similar and then I couldn’t separate my own thoughts from the author’s so I thought it might be best to just link it. So here it is: https://crosspoint.tv/stop-this-train/

Here are some additional thoughts:

I’m glad E and I went through a season without children. It was (is?) hard in some ways and gave me so much empathy for folks who are not on the married with kids trajectory that the rest of the world is on.

Something about the youth and mentoring them and really finding it hard to feel like I have any wisdom to impart when I am still trying to figure life out… but also talking to them and wanting so badly to help them in their figuring life out too.

Gratitude. Again.

[edelweissacermacrophyllum]

As shrewd as serpents, as innocent as doves.

Genesis 25-26, Proverbs 1:20-33, Matthew 10:1-31

This is the story of the mid-life of Issac and his twin sons, Harry and Heel, who, to be crass, are both complete knobs. One sells his birthright for stew and the other buys his brother's birthright for stew. What a clown show. Maybe this is symbolic of something, but to a biblical literalist this is a ridiculous story.

Issac goes off and hangs out with the king of the Philistines, Abimilek, and again uses the trick of saying that his wife was his sister. Nobody actually takes advantage of Rebecca in this case, but it does seem to be a common strategy among Abraham and his children.

I was discussing immigration with a right leaning person and because of my circles, they were a Christian. They used Jesus's words, "Be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves." to defend an exclusive border policy. I thought it was nonsense, especially in light of the entire rest of the bible which is always of one mind when talking about welcoming foreigners. In any case, the only thing I can think of when reading Jesus's words here is the Brothers Karamazov again, where Alyosha is well aware of all the terrible things that go on in the world but also strangely innocent through it.

Anyway, it looks as if Jacob and Esau in the old testament passage are both simultaneously posessed of too much ill intent to be innocent and too dumb to do much with it. Maybe this is too mean spirited.

The quote from Jesus is from his commissioning of his disciples, in which he sends them out into the world. It touches on a lot of things, like not planning too much but just trusting in the instincts they have gained from working with Jesus and in the influence of the Holy Spirit which he has given them. He's saying to think carefully about what they do but to do it out of such wild and reckless love.

I think about this a lot when I work in the social services and meet veteran youth workers, social workers, nurses, care aides, etc. These people have such phenomenal instincts of love, care, and compassion even when they are burning out. They have good habits and for some of them, a connection to the divine that fuels them. I tend to think of them as the quiet and powerful ones. These are the people who have seen the darkest parts of humanity, looked in the eyes of hell itself, shed a tear or even wept bitterly, and then rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

I think that's a good metaphor for what God did in Jesus. They grieved for us and then got to work and joined us, not by waving a wand and making it all better, but by giving their power and trying to get us to be better. There is a quote that I think originated on Tumblr and it gained popularity because of its raw power, but I think it works well here. "I will face God and walk backwards into hell." And that's more or less what Jesus did.

[thatsastepladder]

That's not what "shake the dust off your feet" even means - that comes from an address Jesus gave to His disciples and specifically refers to the missionary trip around Galilee that He was sending them out on for a little while. There's some good advice there - "shrewd as serpents, innocent as doves" is something I quote all the time - but it wasn't meant as universal instruction any more than "do not get any gold or copper or silver to take with you in your belts" was.

Sometimes God does call people to leave a situation when there's no chance of repentance, and to give them over for Him to deal with. But other times, God calls His followers to stay in that situation and keep boldly proclaiming the truth. There's no one-size-fits-all formula for that, unlike what the previous poster indicated.

I don't know exactly what this person's relationship with their brother was like, or how much it had deteriorated over the years, but giving him exactly one chance to repent and then turning and cutting him out of their life doesn't seem very Christlike to me.

(That's not what "don't be unequally yoked" means, either. That refers to not forming close partnerships with non-Christians because conflicting interests and worldviews will lead to a disaster in the partnership, whether that be a business partnership, marriage, or some secret third thing I can't think of at the moment.)

I'm sorry this guy poorly represented Christ and Christianity to you. Without any further context and just with the information presented, that does seem needlessly cruel.

Gonna need a lot more than one, but at least it's something. Still, glad to see everything I've been saying about the trans community needing to start policing itself being reiterated in the article. I personally think "silent majority" is massively overstating things, but this is one case where I'll be happy to be proved wrong.

[feedingtheflockministry]

Love, Hope, and Peace

So often we hear or see posts online from Christians that speak of harsh punishments of those that walk in unrighteousness, and there are those that also speak slanderous words (through mockery and insults) without attaching punishment to them as well. Today I want to address this from a New Testament perspective.

Love

When Jesus started to teach us (humans) of what is right He started with the phrase, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”Repent of what exactly? Our breaking of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are all based on love God and love your neighbor (those around you).

Because of social media in our generation the world essentially has gone from many neighborhoods to one neighborhood. You may not know or interact with someone in your neighborhood, but someone you know does. Therefore your gossip and slandering will make its way to that person you are speaking of. These types of words do not cause peace, but instead conflict and anger to spread. Therefore creating an environment of hatred, violence, and fighting.

Jesus told us to love our enemies. Bless those who curse us. To be peace makers. To be meek and humble. To be like little child. To be harmless as doves, but shrewd as serpents (meaning to recognize a threat and flee from it). Jesus never once told us to go and fight with the opposing side, speak of or perform punishments, or make war on them. In fact He was so adamant about our very words against another that He told us if we even call someone a “fool” we ourselves would be in danger of the fires of hell itself.

Remember what He said about our words and our measurement of judgement. He said, “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” AND “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” So speak out of love knowing that by doing so you protect yourself on the day of judgement.

Hope

Your hope as a follower of Christ should be for all to come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, turn from their ways (repent) and accept His ways as their own. Even the Heavenly Father has hope in His heart for everyone. For Jesus said this, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” That passage speaks of love and hope for all people. If Jesus the Son of God was not sent into the world to judge it, then how much more should we not judge it.

Peace

Peacemaking is absolutely important as a child of God. So much so that Jesus made this statement, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” However, what I see a lot of Christians focus on is His statement shortly after that where He says, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” They think they can bypass the other scriptures that lead up to that passage and it be okay, but it is not. For being compassionate, gentle, merciful, meek, and peaceful with not only other believers but also with those who hate you is essential to fulfilling the teachings of Jesus.

Remember, Jesus once asked this question, “Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” We as His followers should strive to do what He says so we can show ourselves as true disciples of His teachings.

The misunderstandings of Apostle Paul’s writings

Many Christians today have a serious misunderstanding of Paul’s writings when he wrote about spiritual warfare. Many Christians take this to mean they can publicly shame or punish other people that perform evil things. Paul wrote about spiritual things not physical things in these passages. When it came to people in the world whether in leadership positions or the average person he always spoke of walking in love and peace with them. For people are never the enemy, but rather slaves to sin and darkness who, like us, need to be prayed for and treated kindly in order that God may do a good work in them as well.

There are many in the world that will misuse the words love, hope, and peace as well as carefully selected scriptures to support their lifestyle, or try to convince you their sin is not sin or is justifiable. Because they know the scriptures, for the Bible is available to all online for free, do not engage such people. Flee from them quickly. Remember be shrewd as a serpent. Recognize this is a tactic of the father of lies, as he used this same tactic on Jesus in the wilderness. So let them continue in their sinful works, as well as those that do righteous works (following Jesus’s teachings). For Jesus will reward all according to their works upon His return.

[lordeasriel]

Do you have a take on what Phillip and Vera’s daemons would be? Or any of the other guests’ for that matter?

Hehehe yes I do, I've been waiting for this question for so long lmao I'm working on a new fic that is ATTWN written by the Agatha Christie of Lyra's world so I had to come up with daemons for all of them.

I'll start in reverse order, from Vera to Marston, since you asked about her first anon.

For Vera, I was torn between a brownish/greyish owl and a marmoset. I really can't imagine any other Vera than Maeve Dermody, and because appearance is important when thinking about Daemons (because daemons lend something of their animal form to the human, ie 'a serpent daemon usually has a human with a serpentine vibes' this was said by Philman in an interview), I think an owl would have suited her. She has big eyes, that are always darting around; she's often immobile, observing her surroundings. However, I think that a marmoset suits her better because Vera has a Hannah Relf quality to her (another marmoset daemon, in case you haven't read the HDM books). It's that silent attitude, keeping to herself, wary of her surroundings and while she seems weak and fragile, Vera is not afraid to act or reacts extremely if the situation calls for it. She is also very shrewd, and I chose the marmoset for her because there is something so appealing to see Vera, big eyes and shrewd attitude behind a mask of silly girl, with a daemon clinging to her neck, observing the room, tiny and silent, but just as clever as she is.

For Lombard, and this one was a no brainer, he has a panther. Show! Lombard would have a black panther, because it suits Aidan Turner's looks; for the book, it would still be a panther type, but a spotted leopard one. Book! Lombard is more earthy than Show! Lombard, hence his daemon having a lighter, more brown palette. As for the reason, there wasn't a lot of thinking when I chose this; in the book, Lombard is described many times like a panther: dangerous, lithe, moving quietly about the house. Everyone in the house feels this vibe and they know he is dangerous, and he sees them as prey (because one of them is the killer and he is just waiting to catch them). I think for a man like him, having a big, dangerous daemon, is very suitable. There is also something of Asriel in him, both in the show and book, so it's fitting they have the same/similar type of daemon.

For Blore, I knew it had to be a type of dog. Everything about Blore screams "barks more than it bites", and while he can be assertive and take control, he always defers to people if they say the right thing to him. Book! Blore would have a boring, but bigger dog, I imagine; he is described as a big man, and he has a very thuggish attitude. Maybe a German Shepherd. Show! Blore is more sleek and clever, less thuggish more alert and paranoid, but also more in control. He dresses nice, is rather vain specially towards his skills, so I gave him a black poodle, a small one though. Blore, although assertive, always is overwhelmed by Armstrong and Lombard, both men that have a bigger presence and willpower than he does.

For Armstrong, I was torn between weasel and a badger, and I think the badger suits him better. It's tempting to go weasel and say he was oh cunning and sleek, but I don't think that's true. While Show! Armstrong loses his shit fairly quickly, even in distress he maintains some control (like when he insists to take care of Mrs Rogers despite Rogers saying she was alright; or when they are all dancing and he is staring at Vera and Lombard, suspicious, trying to steady himself). The Badger fits him better: grounded, stable creatures but also very vicious if they have to be; if my doctor had a badger daemon I would feel safe, I think. Examples of badger daemons in the books I think it's Malcolm's mom, who is incredibly down-to-earth and assertive, which represents Book! Armstrong better, I'll be honest, but I can see Toby Stephens with a badger daemon as Armstrong as well. His character is a man with a sense of belonging, and he perceives his surroundings very well. In the book, Armstrong is more cool headed (for the show, him and Vera have their attitudes swapped, which I like but it's fair to mention here as well) and more in control of his motions. He moves around everyone and doesn't start dissent like in the show, which I think makes sense for his daemon. He doesn't fight unless he has too.

For Wargrave, and this was fun, but I was torn between a butterfly and a chameleon, and I ultimately decided for the butterfly because I thought the chameleon was too on the nose with his twist. This is for both show and book, and if there are changes it's probably just in colours and patterns. In the book, Wargrave is often described as someone with a reptile smile, hence why I chose the chameleon at first, but I think he is still a fragile man at his core. Butterflies are synonym of beauty and change; they tend to be associated with evolution and growth, and that's Wargrave's story I think. He is a man who spent his life working in law, seeing dozens and dozens of criminals come and go and die: he was known for having a high death rate, so I imagine he dealt with heinous crimes the most (I don't know for sure but I don't think they hanged people for stealing or whatever in the early 20th century, but take this with a pinch of salt lmao). Then one day Wargrave meets this Edward Seton, a total sadist (and a serial killer in the show) and he realised things about himself that he didn't know before. In the show, he has a line about Seton having a legacy of terror to be remembered, while he and everyone else would be forgotten and I think that's very much what the butterfly represents for Wargrave. When he finds out he is sick, he finds growth in pursuing his true passion, which was murder. The butterfly is also a very fragile daemon, and because of that she doesn't reflect his true physique (despite sick he is nowhere near as frail as he appears to be), and her beauty helps lure the trust of people, make him seem trustworthy (Vera on the show, Armstrong in the book). Just to add, he is also separated from her, and this is how he manages to fake his death well. (i was saving this twist for the fic but I might never finish it lmao)

For Miss Brent, this one had me thinking a lot. Like, a lot. I was torn between a toucan and a spider, and I ultimately decided to go for the toucan, mostly because I think it suits her better. Spiders are often associated with storytellers and creative people and Emily Brent is far from creative. She is judgemental, conservative, vain and nasty towards anyone she considers unworthy. In the show, she has an attitude towards the General, she likes him well and they don't quite explain why, but I think it's because he is from her generation - and social status - and she respects him for it. The same goes for Wargrave and Armstrong, but towards Armstrong she just respects his status, not his age. She sort of sees him as "still young but on the right path". She absolutely resents Lombard - as she does in the book, probably for the same reason: he is pretty much a living hands to mouth kind of guy and he is immoral according to her - and she doesn't think highly of Blore either, also because of social status. Anyway, I can do a separate post about this, but I chose the toucan because they are beautiful birds, a little menacing, and they have a bit of a bitchy attitude. No deeper thought to that to be fair lmao. Toucans make me think "vain" and I love this concept because Miss Brent loathes women who wear make up or show off, but I think this Is clearly a façade on her part, because she is also vain, in her own way.

For Rogers, I was torn between a big, posh dog and a fox. Now, this one is tough because we fall into that "good servants have dog daemons" rule, which I think it's too simplistic to define a person's nature. I'm more inclined towards the posh dog, mostly because I think that helps Rogers fit in with a crowd that isn't his; and sure, he is a cunning man (like a fox daemon would evoke) but I think a dog like a Dobermann suits Rogers best, in the book at least. A fox would suit show! Rogers better, but the dog suits him too physically (tall, slender, mean looking), so I'm sticking with the dog.

For the General, I think a hawk. A bird of prey. He was a soldier and he was fucking shrewd to send a man to die in such an inconspicuous way. Birds of prey Daemons have very passionate humans - Ma Costa, Tony Costa, Anthony Hassall, as well as Bud Schlesinger and Marcel Delamare with their owls - but while owls are tame and introvert, hawks tend to be extreme and out there, lashing out and being menacing with ease. This was a natural choice for me, although I also considered eagles for him later, but changed my mind. (On my notes I wrote "def not an owl" lmao)

For Mrs Rogers, I think a mouse would suit her, and I know this is painfully obvious, but that's the vibe she gives me. A small person, being coerced and oppressed by a petty tyrant, and she just lets things steer her by, absolutely not in control of her life. I also gave her a same sex type of daemon, because she just has that uncanny aura, I don't know how to explain it; I can see that affecting her life since childhood, and steering her towards a man like Rogers, who would take advantage of her loneliness. Same sex daemons are rare and the example we had was in someone extremely sensitive, and I feel that in Mrs Rogers.

And lastly, Tony Marston, and this one I had too many options, but I opted for a Margay, who was suggested to me in fact. It's a feline daemon, very slick and lithe but also very ethereal looking, which I think suits Marston: handsome but lacking substance (not lacking so much substance in the show tho lmao get it? cause he did cocaine? a substance? Haha please don't unfollow me). Frankly, because he dies first I didn't give this too much thought, but I knew it had to be a wild daemon, quick and lithe.

Honorable mention to Fred Narracott and his seagull daemon. Thanks for asking this anon, I had a blast!

[psychicmedium14]

How Much Does Celtic Astrology Know About You?

Celtic astrology, also known as the Druid Sign, originated from the Ogham which, unlike Western or Egyptian astrology, is comprised of 13 signs. What does the Celtic zodiac know about you? What is your symbolism from the Celtic point of view?

♈

Aries:

Those who were born from March 20 to April 14 belong to the Alder Tree sign of the Celtic Zodiac. The natives of this sign of the Celtic Zodiac are renowned for their fearlessness. They tend to be stubborn and if something doesn’t go their way they know how to change things in their favor. The natives are very mobile and passionate. Their energy is enough for them to be passionate about lots of things at the same time.

Those born from April 15 to April 20 belong to the Willow Tree sign of the Celtic Zodiac. The vivid imagination is the most prominent feature of the natives of this sign. They tend to be creative. A lot of this sign’s natives are poets or writers. Usually, from the very childhood, they tend to make up stories and daydream. They are also very intuitive. Their sixth sense helps them a lot in their lives.

The animals connected with those born during the first period are the bear, the fox, and the hawk. The hawk symbolizes the natives’ alertness to any sudden change. The animals connected with those born during the second period are the adder, the hare, and the sea serpent. The sea serpent symbolizes psychological growth, regeneration, and healing.

♉

Taurus:

Those who were born from April 20 to May 12 belong to the Willow Tree sign. Their imagination tends to be very vivid. The natives of this sign are artistic: many of them become writers, poets, and artists. Usually, their abilities to create appear from the very childhood. They often paint, make up stories, and daydream as kids. Their intuition is also very strong.

Those who were born from May 13 to May 21 belong to the Hawthorn Tree sign. The natives of this Tree sign tend to be patient and thoughtful. Sometimes it is hard for them to stop their inner monologue. They tend to over-analyze things: it’s not easy for them to relax and loosen control. The natives of this sign are good listeners and always very attentive to the needs of their surroundings.

The animals connected with those born during the first period are the adder, the hare, and the sea serpent. The serpent symbolizes the ability to heal. The animals connected with those born during the second period are the bee, the fox, and the owl. The fox symbolizes shrewdness of this sign’s natives.

♊

Gemini:

Those who were born from May 21 to June 9 belong to the Hawthorn Tree sign. The natives of this sign of the Celtic Zodiac are usually interested in spirituality. Their tendency to over-analyze issues they have to face sometimes makes life difficult for them. They also tend to be good listeners and are always helpful.

Those who were born from June 10 to June 21 belong to the Oak Tree sign. It is typical of the natives of this Tree sign to be reliable and trustworthy people. They are renowned for their strength of character. They tend to protect those who can’t protect themselves. The natives of the sign are generous and helpful. They have a deep respect for traditions and sometimes tend to be a bit too conservative.

The animals connected with those born during the first period are the bee, the fox, and the owl. The fox is the symbol of intelligence. The animals connected with those born during the second period are the otter, the wren, and the white horse. The white horse is the symbol of purity, protection, spirituality, and freedom.

♋

Cancer:

Those who were born from June 21 to July 7 belong to the Oak Tree sign. The natives of the sign are renowned for their honesty. They tend to be reliable and loyal friends. The strength of their character is remarkable. They are helpful and always protect those who can’t protect themselves. Traditions are very important to the natives of the sign. It is difficult for them to change things radically.

Those who were born from July 8 to July 23 belong to the Holly Tree sign. The natives of the sign are renowned to be natural leaders. It is easy for them to overcome any obstacle they have to face. They always come up with a clever idea when it’s needed to solve an issue. They don’t admit defeat too easily. That is why many people don’t mind following them as their leader.

The animals connected with those born during the first period are the otter, the wren, and the white horse. The white horse represents spirituality and freedom. The animals connected with those born during the second period are the cat and the unicorn. The unicorn represents the balance of elements and harmony of light and dark.

♌

Leo:

Those who were born from July 23 to August 4 belong to the Holly Tree sign. The natives of this Tree sign are usually good leaders and fighters. Overcoming an obstacle to succeed is the easiest thing for them. They are creative and always quick to come up with an idea that solves an issue they face immediately.

Those who were born from August 5 to August 23 belong to the Hazel Tree sign. The natives of this sign are renowned for their intelligence, maturity, and efficiency. They tend to be very organized. They are usually gifted and quick learners. Their memory is surprisingly good, probably the best of all signs. It is easy for some of the natives to recite long poems by heart: this ability to memorize helps them in life a lot.

The animals connected with those born during the first period are the cat and the unicorn. The unicorn symbolizes the harmony of good and evil. The animals connected with those born during the second period are the crane and the rainbow salmon. The salmon symbolizes the deep understanding of life.

♍

Virgo:

Those who were born from August 23 to September 1 belong to the Hazel Tree sign. The natives of the sign tend to be mature and intelligent. It is easy for them to learn new things due to their natural intelligence and good memory. Some of the natives of this sign are extremely good at math.

Those who were born from September 2 to September 23 belong to the Vine Tree sign. The natives of this Celtic Zodiac sign tend to be sincere and open: they rarely suppress their feelings. It is easy to understand what they are thinking about just by looking at their faces. The natives sometimes tend to be indecisive. The reason for it is their ability to understand and sympathize with each side of a conflict.

The animals connected with those born during the first period are the crane and the rainbow salmon. The salmon represents wisdom. The animals connected with those born during the second period are the lizard, the hound, and the white swan. The white swan is renowned for its inner strength, longevity, and loyalty. It also represents the ability to reestablish things with an ease.

♎

Libra:

Those who were born from September 23 to September 29 belong to the Vine Tree sign. For the natives of the sign, it is not easy to hide their feelings. They tend to share them with their friends and loved ones. Sometimes, it’s difficult for the natives to make up their mind. They spend much time analyzing both sides of a conflict.

Those who were born from September 30 to October 23 belong to the Ivy Tree sign. The most prominent feature of the natives of this Tree sign is their willpower. Their ability to overcome all odds often surprise their surroundings. They tend to be compassionate and loyal. They always want to be helpful to their loved ones. The natives of the signs also tend to be interested in spiritual matters.

The animals connected with those born during the first period are the lizard, the hound, and the white swan. The white swan is associated with loyalty and strength. The animals connected with those born during the second period are the boar, the goose, and the butterfly. The butterfly represents this sign’s natives’ ability to be very socially active. It’s easy for them to have small talks with strangers and meet new people.

♏

Scorpio:

Those who were born from October 23 to October 27 belong to the Ivy Tree sign. The natives of the sign tend to have a strong willpower. They won’t admit their defeat no matter what happens to them. They tend to be very loyal friends who are always ready to help others. They tend to be interested in philosophy and spirituality.

Those who were born from October 28 to November 22 belong to the Reed Tree sign. The natives of this sign tend to be sophisticated, spiritual, and open-minded. They always welcome new experience. They are also renowned for their ability to find the core of the matter. They are shrewd and easily see the real meaning of things. Their capability to convince people around them is impressive: sometimes they even use it to manipulate their surroundings.

The animals connected with those born during the first period are the boar, the goose, and the butterfly. The butterfly symbolizes the natives’ ability to make new friends easily. The animals connected with those born during the second period are the white hound and the owl. The hound represents loyalty and ability to see far.

♐

Sagittarius:

Those who were born from November 22 to November 24 belong to the Reed Tree sign. The natives of the sign tend to be interested in the spiritual matters. They are open-minded and always ready for a new experience. They tend to be shrewd and easily see the core of the matter. It is also extremely easy for them to convince people.

Those who were born from November 25 to December 22 belong to the Elder Tree sign. This sign of the Celtic Zodiac is associated with wisdom and, paradoxically, love for adventures. The natives sometimes seem to be a bit wild and unpredictable to the natives of other signs of the Zodiac. At the same time, they are thoughtful in nature and analyze every possibility they see with care.

The animals connected with those born during the first period are the white hound and the owl. The hound is associated with loyalty and cleverness. The animals connected with those born during the second period are the badger, the black horse, and the raven. The black horse represents the sign’s endurance – both physical and mental – and strength.

♑

Capricorn:

Those who were born from December 22 to December 23 belong to the Elder Tree sign. The natives of the sign tend to be wise, clever, and thoughtful. They analyze the issues they face from different perspectives and usually make the right decision. At the same time, they tend to be adventurous and eager to take risks.

Those who were born from December 24 to January 20 belong to the Birch Tree sign. It is typical of the natives of this sign to be somewhat innovative and have an unusual outlook on things around them. They know how to motivate other people to do something challenging or even heroic. It is easy for people born under the influence of Birch to become leaders. They tend to reach for more.

The animals connected with those born during the first period are the badger, the black horse, and the raven. The black horse symbolizes strength and wisdom. The animals connected with those born during the second period are the golden eagle and the white stag. The white stag symbolizes the sign’s intelligence and swiftness. This animal is very aware of whatever is happening around it.

♒

Aquarius:

Those who were born on January 20 belong to the Birch Tree sign. The natives of the sign tend to be innovative and creative. It is easy for them to motivate their surroundings to do something challenging. The natives of the sign are natural leaders. They are not afraid of obstacles they have to face.

Those who were born from January 21 to February 17 belong to the Rowan Tree sign. People born under the influence of this tree are renowned as thinkers and philosophers. They like to think every little thing through and analyze every turn of events from different points of view. They rarely rush things. Sometimes they spend too much time to make up their mind. They also tend to be creative.

The animals connected with those born during the first period are the golden eagle and the white stag. The white stag represents intelligence and the ability to decide fast. The animals connected with those born during the second period are the crane and the green dragon. The green dragon is the symbol of spiritual growth, according to the Celts. Dragons are able to see far: this ability helps the natives of this Celtic sign spot the issue immediately and solve it.

♓

Pisces:

Those who were born from February 18 to March 17 belong to the Ash Tree sign. In the Celtic Zodiac, the Ash tree symbolizes peace and solitude in a good sense. The natives of this sign are usually comfortable with being alone. But they don’t mind meeting new people and chatting about trivial matters, too, - their willing to be alone and their love for social activities live in the perfect harmony.

Those who were born from March 18 to March 20 belong to the Alder Tree sign. The natives of the sign tend to be courageous and often stubborn. It is not easy to convince them that they are wrong and, if they face an obstacle, they will do anything to overcome it. They also tend to be very energetic and passionate.

The animals connected with those born during the first period are the seahorse, the seagull, and the seal. The seahorse symbolizes the flexibility of mind. The animals connected with those born during the second period are the bear, the fox, and the hawk. The hawk represents cleverness and ability to adapt to changes.

[royal-writer]

Bite first, ask questions later

I had words for this but I- am making age 0 internet start up noises of exhaustion

-

“You’re not bringing another sssstray into this group, Abernathy.”

“You can’t exactly stop me?”

Essätha gritted her clenched teeth together in warbling hiss of displeasure. Her shoulders hunched forward in a posture inclined with threats; aggressive and tense. Glowering upon the towering hulk of a figure; a man that could snap her like a toothpick, though his gaze was gentle. His intentions, too, she knew, were gentle deep inside. Poorly placed, badly executed, but gentle.

She tore her gaze from him, back towards the real source of her anger. It was a feeling covered in bruises and aching old wounds. The kind of hurt and sadness that bleed together until you only knew how to be on the offense. The crueler you were, the more it scared away the potential of being struck down yet again. The angrier and nastier you were, the more it terrorized your foes into submission.

“No one wants you here,” she indicated with a sneer and burning gaze. She gave a jerk of her head towards her adversary, chin held up high. A renaissance man would name her portrait Defiance.

The blue dragonborn sheepishly tugged at his collar beneath her scolding gaze. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings-”

Curling her lip, Essie snorted in his direction. She was fast enough by only a fraction to beat their hasty retreat as she stepped forward. A quick blow from the heel of her palm to broad chest, and Yandi Lung staggered further back from her with parted jaws to reveal the sharp edges of his teeth.

“Essätha-”

Ignoring the warning note in the half-elf half-orc’s tone, her hand wrung into the material of the dragon’s gear. Cloth and the strap to his bow holster were entangled in her fingers as she hissed directly into his face. The air expelled from her lungs in a rush, easing her anger just enough to keep her humanoid form stabilized. Somewhere inside, the serpent was baring its fangs, poised to trap its prey down and wring it till its final breath.

“You’re a man of wealth and privilege, and you have the nerve to steal from people that have less than you? For kicks? For a thrill? You disgust me. Have you ever thought about how your actions could ruin someone’s life? How the gold and goods might be all they had to sustain on? How the careless use of your words could damage someone? Break them? A worm like you can not hurt my feelings. You don’t have that kind of power.”

“Your family should disown you in shame,” she snapped, releasing her grasp upon them. “Paying off debts does not justify what you do; what you’ve done, to make other people insecure, to take their livelihoods, to hurt others like you have. You’re no beggar; no struggling fool, you’re just some jackass with no conscious, who cares for no one that has less than them, who only wants to hassle and harass.”

He gaped at her. They all did.

“T-To be fair your nobleman is not poor, he would not miss a bit of coin-” Yandi piped up, trying to scramble together words to save his dignity.

Essie quirked an eyebrow, bumping out a hip. “And the shopkeep? Already underselling his wares, now paranoid, gentle, trying to cover his losses? You’re telling me he was the only commoner you’ve stolen from in all your treachery?”

He snapped his mouth shut guiltily.

“That’s what I thought,” Essätha reprimanded once more in a sneer. Her gaze; a fiery golden brown, darted over towards Abe.

“I know you think everyone is deserving of second-chances, sir Abernathy, but in this case, I keep my foot firmly down. I do not wish to see whisker nor scale of this vermin; for fear of repulsion will make me sick.”

Another quick glance towards the dragonborn. She jabs a finger in his direction, causing them to shrink back further as though expecting to be hit. It gave her a mixed feeling of satisfaction and self-loathing. Violence was not customary to her. A hard front, sure, but the idea of a fight without just cause; without some sort of attempt to fix it first, seemed a waste of energy.

“You are rude, inconsiderate, ill-mannered, and lack compassion,” she reprimanded loudly. “If you want to be a nobleman, why don’t you learn from a true gentleman?”

In a wave of her hand, the Yuan-Ti woman indicated towards where the nobility of their party stood.

Instantly, Lord Amon’s statue stiffened considerably. He made no sound as everyone turned their gaze towards him, but swallowed with obvious difficulty. The words, it appeared, had caught him off guard the most out of everyone. Crimson began to wash over him the longer the stares held; the more the silence sluggishly crept on.

“… Harsh,” Penimra finally spoke up, his ears perked up with interest in the juicy drama. It gave everyone a chance to animate themselves once more, cutting into the quiet tension.

With tail curled close, Yandi groaned in the back of his throat. He placed hand over his chest, and bowed respectfully.

“You’re absolutely right. I’m so sorry-”

“I don’t want any more of your meaningless apologizes; they’re a waste of your time, and mine,” Essätha reminded him, shrewd and flat. She gave the slightest twist at her hips to the side. A sway, allowing the light source to illuminate her curves wonderfully.

“My eczema offends you? You wish you looked this good.”

To her astonishment, Adela’s quiet ‘yes’ of approval as she clenched a fist had them all whipping their heads towards her next. The tiefling gave an unapologetic shrug, and giggled nervously beneath the attention.

Essätha followed the surprise in one’s throat clearing. Hardly there; a sound you could easily overlook in a space filled with gasped murmuring.

From her peripherals, she could just made out Lord Amon’s gaze sweeping over her. Dark blue eyes pierced through the veil; started at her face and slithered it’s way down. He traced the shape of her curves; the outline of her shilloutte, how she positioned her hips, her posture. Back up, admiring the contours with his jaw slacking enough for parted lips and a slightly parted mouth to inhale a bit loud, a bit shaky as he took in the fierceness of her features.

His gaze lingered too long to be innocent.

Growing flush, the Briarton Protector turns his face away swiftly before she can turn her head. There’s a jump in the adam’s apple of his throat as she glances a bit more plainly towards him now, although he doesn’t notice.

The feelings in her chest twisted like breadknots. They all came from the same source, felt a bit mix-match, and ended up tangling up in a confused mess.

It was the first time in her life that she could feel the spotlight on her, and didn’t feel ashamed by it.

With her own cheeks a bit pink-tinted; something everyone well in believed was for simple assertion of her attitude, Essätha indicated with a nod of her head towards the door.

“It’s time for you to go.”

A dog with their tail between their legs, Yandi tiptoed for the door with their head hanging low.

To his credit, still stunned, Abernathy was right on the blue dragonborn’s heels with despair written in his complexion.

Dissolving; her spine finally allowing itself to relax without the presence of the insufferable man, Essätha skimmed her eyes over to where the nobleman was. She was filled with uncertainty and concern to see Lord Amon’s regard not on her. His eyes were upon the door in fact; looking after the dejected vision of one thief and their paladin father-figure.

Now doused in her own self-doubt, Essätha sighed.

“Those are some strong feelings towards thiefs,” Ravamora voiced; startlingly her enough to jump with how she snuck up close to her side in a stealthy cover.

“Shush!” Essie scolded. She reached out to place a reassuring hand on the rogue’s shoulder, giving a sloppy half-smile. “Come on kid, we only need one clever thief anyway, Rava, and only you can do what you do.”

The wood-elf beamed, and said nothing more. Her chest puffed out, her eyes half-slit like a pleased cat minus the confident purr.

Once again, the Yuan-Ti woman searched for Amon’s gaze hopefully. It was still disengaged from the rest of them.

She sighed, her insides itching with unease.

The one person she prayed, she hoped not to have offended or bothered with her reckless wording, still seemed far away.

Dear gods, let her not have broken anything with her stupid, big mouth.

[maxmiz]

OMFG!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! mmm I was wondering if you could elaborate a little bit more in Max story? I LOVE how he is Slytherin's heir

Hey there @dangpanterita​. :D Apologies for answering this so terribly late but my job keeps me incredibly busy. Let me elaborate on the two stories:

1. Max’s story in my Potter/Beyblade Headcanon

Max’s story is pretty neatly woven into the Potterverse in my head and my headcanon about him being an heir of Slytherin makes perfect sense somehow when it comes to writing a story with an epic twist. We all picture him either as a Ravenclaw (for his obvious brains), as a Hufflepuff (for his nature) or as a Gryffindor because the kid’s got some courage (he sky-dived off a damned plane to save his friends). And don’t get me wrong, I don’t picture him in Slytherin house either. But as an heir of Slytherin? Hell, yes.

I was working on a fanfic on this for some time while I was still at uni a few years back and I developed a sort of story out of it in my head. We all know that Judy is a hell of a scientist and there’s plenty of evidence in canon to show that she’s extremely shrewd, proud and ambitious - all of which are qualities of a Slytherin through and through. I’m not saying she’s evil though - but she definitely is as much of a morally grey character in my headcanon as she is in actual canon (especially in season 1 where she is undeniably cold to her son for no good reason).

I primarily imagine Judy as the Minister for Magic in my headcanon. A cold but somewhat level headed witch who is pure-blooded,extremely gifted, headstrong and ambitious. She is for the most part motivated only by her instinct for self preservation (arguably a trait of someone who would be a pure Slytherin heir), but she has a soft corner for her half blood son, Max. That is the only thing in the world that made her break away from her family. She abandoned her Slytherin crazed family to protect her son, and severed all ties with her Slytherin roots to move up in the world and become Minister.

So how was Max born at all if she was a typical Muggle resenting Slytherin?

My headcanon is that Taro, Max’s dad, is a Muggle. That Judy, as a teenager, faced a lot of abuse in her household from her father for not channeling her gifts to terrorize Muggle-borns. She runs away one day, drinks a hell of a lot of firewhiskey,meets a teenaged Muggle Taro at a Muggle bar and ends up pregnant. Once she and Taro both sober up, she feels utterly disgusted that she slept with a Muggle. She tries to abort the child, but cannot. Since childhood she’s been wearing her dead mother’s pendant of Genbu (a gift from her father to her mother) and somehow Genbu casts a protective spell around her unborn foetus to ensure the continuity of Slytherin’s bloodline. She feels helpless because she neither wants the child nor does she have the choice to abort it. She feels cursed and knows that her father will kill her child if he knows he’s a half blood. She flees pregnant to the US and with whatever money she had run away with, she joins Ilvermony to complete her final year of education.

She realises, however, that she can’t continue into the next chapter of her life with Max. She wanted to be Minister for Magic and had no interest in being a mother. Also if  her father finds Max, he’ll kill him. But she did love Max. She couldn’t exactly abandon him.

So she reluctantly leaves him with Taro to raise the boy and deletes any permanent records of her being Max’s mother. She gives Max the pendant of Genbu and moves on. Once in every few months she would visit her son, but all of that would happen in secret. Max and Taro knew that Judy was his mother, but the world has no idea.

Max often grew up wondering if his mom is so distant to protect him or if it’s only a facade for her not wanting to raise a child. He often feels conflicted by it (much like in canon).

What is the role of Genbu here?

Genbu, as I mentioned in the earlier headcanon (in the Japanese version of beyblade, Max’s bit beast is called Genbu), is traditionally represented as both a tortoise and a serpent. You can look it up. And that’s where the heir of Slytherin theory finds more support. This is Genbu (source: Wikipedia):

Max was always aware of the fact that the locket that he wore was the locket of Slytherin. He was aware of his heritage because he would often only accidentally be able to control ocean waves, but also speak to snakes before he went to Hogwarts. And of course, Judy told him why he could never reveal who he was.

And truly, because of everything he knew, he begged the sorting hat to not sort him into Slytherin. Eventually he gets sorted into Ravenclaw much to his relief.

Genbu is nothing more than the spirit of Salazar Slytherin trapped in a pendant which gives the heir of Slytherin wearing it the power to harness the same powers as him if ever the Slytherin bloodline is threatened. It can also mess with the head of the wearer.

In my headcanon, ultimately Max fights the spirit from messing with his head and tames it to become who he is. A powerful wizard who controls the element of water and controls serpents.

Max’s personality

In my headcanon, I’ve tried to bring out a darker side of Max. His personality is still the same of course, he’s funny, kind and has a heart of gold. But there’s an inherent darkness inside him. Let’s look at canon for a second. Max never loses his cool. But the few times that he did lose his cool in canon, he channeled his rage into his beyblading to epic proportions. With others, the rage is pretty standard. But when Max would snap, he’d snap big time. When his pride is hurt, he hits back big time.

The guy is smart as hell (calculating angles and saving a puppy with a beyblade requires some brains and skills) which is why he is in Ravenclaw in my story. But, he has all the makings of an heir of Slytherin whose dark side remains buried mostly because the Muggle born blood from Taro’s side keeps him grounded and kind.

Let’s not forget, in my headcanon he’s been raised mostly by Taro. So the kindness is natural. But deep down, he’s every bit his mother’s son too. So I have headcanons about Max having a dark side - a manifestation of his inner Slytherin.

2. Brooklyn’s story in Potter/Beyblade Headcanon

To answer your question, yes, I do picture Brooklyn as Credence to a certain extent. I never actually got to formulating his part of the story in my head but here’s how I imagine it going.

We don’t know a lot about Credence as such. We do know that he is a pure blooded wizard who was raised by an abusive Muggle and developed into an obscurial who somehow survived into adulthood. We also know that he’s extremely powerful, had faced a lot of childhood abuse and had grown up feeling different and alone. And of course, that he was manipulated and used by Grindelwald.

Now let us look at Brooklyn in canon. Brooklyn is also an exceptional wizard. He’s brilliant, a loner and if we look at the very last episode of beyblade, he’s grown up extremely lonely and friendless. He was always different from everyone else, gifted. He has an immense amount of power, is not inherently evil by any stretch of imagination. But judging by canon, it is obvious that Brooklyn has some degree of PTSD and probably had faced tremendous bullying or some form of abuse as child. When Brooklyn is in a mad rage, he assumes this dark uncontrollable form. Also, when BEGA was formed, Beyblade’s key antagonist, Boris (I’m using the English dub name) used Brooklyn and his mad rage and pushed him over the edge.

THIS IS ALL VERY CREDENCE AND GRINDELWALD.

So here’s my headcanon for Brooklyn. Brooklyn was a gifted powerful wizard who never went to Hogwarts. He had a lot of hidden magical talent that he dared not express because the Muggles who raised him were abusive and tried to make him repress it. And he is also an obscurial. I headcanon that Brooklyn’s bit beast is like some physical manifestation of his obscurial form and Boris, for the sake of his personal gains pushes Brooklyn over the age to use his obscurial powers to wreak havoc.

Okay so that’s as much elaboration as I could manage on my headcanons.

Thanks for the question!

[cardhouseandthecage]

LV, fears

Characeter ask meme, re @lilac-buttons Mischance asks LV: E. Fears.

(this scene may be unfinished but the fears part has been covered so I’m going to go ahead and post it, finish the rest of the asks, then maybe write the ending later. or i might just draw the ending)

—

LV looked first into the courtyard, where the four bell-trees stood in symmetry around a fountain of light: the copper, the silver, the gold, and the bronze. Their colours mingled in the water as it danced, and a wind played through branches as in welcome. The chimes they bore rang prettily, and LV stood then a moment in the shade, remembering how the jester first had danced there, alone over the stonework in the amber light (how she had choked here in the shadows looking on, how she had not dared to breathe). But the courtyard now was empty. The jester was not there. So she passed beneath an arch into the Antique Vestibule, on through the Hall of Mirrors and the maze of stairs in black and white (which nearly trapped her), escaping at last through a shaft to the Room of Light and Music and the adjoining Concert of the Still Lake. There, she drew a symbol on a slate-coloured tile. Its counterpart in the ceiling shifted, and dropped down a ladder made of silk: this she took in hand, and then she paused.

She looked from the ladder to her plated fingers, and then down to her heavy boots. A dark circle stained the water all around her. LV frowned: she had not noticed that she had been dripping. How many of the rooms, she wondered, had she defiled? With a roll of her wrist she drew the blackness back into herself, then contracted her bulk and smoothed over her hands and feet.

Thinking thoughts of lightness and containment, she opened the hatch into the Loft of Scarves.

Silks of lavender and marigold writhed like serpents in light above. She pulled herself up and set the hatch back at her feet, spoke one word and the swarm parted. Back to the wall, Mischance sat huddled with their head between their knees, only a hat and hands and feet. They must have noticed her by now, but they showed no sign of it. She passed through the scarves and took a seat against the wall beside them, realising as she did that she had taken a size almost identical to theirs. She waited, resting an arm upon one knee.

“You must think me a great coward,” they said.

Their voice was unexpectedly clear for all that they had not lifted their head from their knees. LV stole one glance in their direction. “Not at all,” she said, and looked back to the throng of scarves.

“I think that you are very brave.”

“I don’t know why you keep me.” Mischance ignored her. “You were right in the beginning, to turn me away. I’m no match for you. Everything you do is beyond me. You…you’re fearless. You’re not afraid of anything; you’re more.” They paused, and their voice retreated into their throat. “I hold you back.”

“That isn’t true.”

“You can’t tell me you weren’t put out when I refused to run the experiment.” Mischance glared at her, their expression shrewd, but LV could see that they had been crying. “You’re not subtle.”

“No,” LV looked down, and her crown hung low around her head. “I mean…yes, it’s true that I was disappointed. And I still think”—she placed one hand on either side of her helmet, and exhaled. “I mean I think it was unfair of me. I think that if it was anything I did or said that caused you to feel like this, then it was unfair. I think it does not matter what I wanted, if you did not want it also. I will not—” Now her crown threatened to drip more seriously; she caught a large globule of it in her hand as it dropped down before her face, and curled her fingers around the sludge. “I must not be that. Not with you. No matter what I want, no matter what I say. Do you understand?”

“Of course I do.” Mischance spoke levelly. “And that is why I say what I have said, exactly as I have said it. How could I hold you back if I had no hold on you? I know well that you will never force me: that’s not what I said.” They held her gaze. “I said that I hold you back.”

“And I say that you are very clever, fool, but you are wrong. You said also that I am not afraid.” LV paused, looked down again. “It isn’t true.”

“Oh don’t humour me.”  The jester rolled their eyes and leaned back against the wall. “Apart from petty negotiations I don’t think i’ve ever seen you fearful in my entire life—and you can’t tell me that counts; that’s just absurd.”

“It absolutely does count. Paperwork is horrifying. But that’s not what I was talking about.”

“Then what?”

LV traced a pattern with her finger over her right knee, silent for a spell, and Mischance waited. At length she let her head fall to one side, and caught their eye from under the shadow of her helmet.

“Do you really think that’s why I tried to run you off?”

She spoke now very softly, quiet as a ghost.

“I mean you first came to this place. Do you think it was because I thought you would not measure up—that you would not be brave enough to match me? Because if so, I’m having a hard time imagining how you could have gotten it more wrong. You, Mischance, were the bravest thing I’d seen in years.” She looked down. “I was terrified.”  

“You…what?”

“You terrified me.”

“I’m sorry,” Mischance laughed. “But…how—?”

“It’s difficult to explain.”

The scarves had calmed somewhat now, and Mischance let them swim through the air in a figure eight as she continued to speak. The stream of their shadows rippled over the walls.

“Before you came here,” she said, “I did not hope for anything. And I did not fear anything, either—not for a long time. You’d be surprised how easy that is, when you want nothing. When nothing is wanted of you. I simply was. I was waiting… I assumed that it would be like that forever, until I was not. So when you came here—when you answered the summons that I did not recall having sent, when you overcame the nine gates and demanded my audience, bowed before me as if I were still some great lord, and begged apprenticeship… you hardly seemed possible. I did not know what to make of you. You trembled under my scrutiny, and yet you would not leave. You had the summons. I let you stay, and you were pleased. I could not fathom why. You seemed so interested in everything around you, so reactive. Things startled you and you jumped. A colour would catch your eye: you’d step closer and you’d smile. You ran your tests and you threw your scarves and bent all surfaces to your will. You set goals and you celebrated your progress, and scowled when you found yourself thwarted. You kept on. You made jokes and laughed at them. And then too sometimes you saddened, sometimes you stilled…” She looked up, reached over and took one bell from the jester’s hat between her fingers. “Just like this. “And I thought then that perhaps, after all, you were not so different…” She drew her finger over their nose, and down the line of diamonds on each cheek. “But even in your sadness there was an energy—something I recognised, but had not felt in a very long time. It was full, somehow. Full of want.” She drew back her hand now, let it hover before their face. “And that frightened me. It’s what had frightened me all along. It’s why I’d wanted you to leave—the moment I saw you: everything about you screamed it. You wanted so much. And you were brave enough to try.” She rotated her palm to face her, and stared into it.

“It takes a great deal of courage, you see, to be afraid. You’ll think you’ve cheated it—you’ll think you’re fearless—but there is a deeper fear behind it: one that sleeps, and one that waits. That fear is a tyrant. It will make a coward of you, and you’ll never know: it erases all fears else, lays you to rest…

“I’m afraid of a lot of things, now. I owe you that. I’m afraid of what I was, and what I am. Afraid of the difference. So much that I have ruined, you remind me of: I’m afraid I will destroy you, somehow, or disappoint you—that we will fail. There is such a heaviness in me, sometimes—still—and I’m afraid it will win out, that I’ll go back. And I do not want that, Mischance. Even to fear these things at all: I hold it a great privilege: it is better—so much better. Now you say you are no match for me.” She laughed gently, flexed and un-flexed her hand. “But what would I be, do you think, if you had not come?”

Mischance now sat facing her with their legs crossed, their expression kind. They reached out and caught another drop from her crown, rolled it from hand to hand like a ball of mercury, transfigured it into a globular caterpillar.

“I do not think it quite fair,” they said, “to call yourself a coward.” They placed the caterpillar back atop the rim of her crown. “You were not well. You may have recovered on your own, in time. Or perhaps someone else would have helped you. Maybe even someone better.”

“No.”

“No what?”

LV pulled away, rolled onto her knees and drew herself up tall.

“None of that. No one better.”

“You can’t know that.”

“I can,” she said, and she would have looked very grave but for the caterpillar inching around the circumference of crown. “Do you think I would accept just anyone into this position? I am your King. I will not sit here and be insulted in my choice of jester.”

“Hmmmm.” Mischance narrowed their eyes, held out their hand in front of them, palm down. In a flash, a set of cards leapt up to meet it from a crack in the floorboards. Mischance shuffled them in a series of arcs, then held them up in front of of their nose in a fan, peering just over the tops of them.

“Will it please your Grace,” they asked, “to pick a card?”

[geeky-politics-46]

The Asgardian Candidate

Loki/The West Wing FanFiction Crossover

Chapter 5 - “The Second Debate”

This time Loki was prepared. He wasn't about to make the same mistakes this time. While he still couldn't give a rat's ass about the finer points of policy & legislation, growing up as a prince of Asgard he had overheard enough to have a decent grip on how best to handle foreign affairs.

Once upon a time he had believed diplomacy to be the best path forward, but years of being ignored & undercut by Odin had changed him. Odin always prattled on about the power of being a diplomat first, but Loki knew that wasn't really how Asgard became the revered kingdom it was. Now he knew that in order for him to rule, as was his birth right, he had to take a shrewd & aggressive path.

The Midgardian political pundits had taken to referring to him as a bit of a war hawk. It was a title he didn't particularly mind, but some voters did seem put off by the title. Once he was president he would make them fall in line regardless. He was a god, they could hardly rebel successfully once he had power. He was destined to rule & they couldn’t stop. His army, his throne.

He checked the mirror one final time as everyone began to find their positions to begin the debate. He smoothed his waist coat, straightened his tie, & adjusted the gold clip holding it in place. Lastly he gripped the lapels on his suit jacket, shrugging & rolling his shoulders back & forth, allowing his neck to relax a little & his head to shift lightly side to side. His movement stilled as he exhaled deeply. He flashed his bright smile at himself in the mirror, that was his armor in this battle. Less extravagant than his Asgardian leathers, but much more fitting of his true personality & his opponent.

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On the opposite side of the stage, in the adjacent wings, President Bartlet stood calm & stoic. Despite most of his staff running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

Prior to the presidency Jed had served 3 terms in the House Of Representatives, 2 terms as the governor of New Hampshire, won a Nobel Prize in economics, & raised 3 daughters. If debating or talking made him nervous he would have died of a heart attack long ago.

Loki was just another loud mouth narcissist on an ego trip, Jed was sure of it. His heart wasn't in it, or at least his heart wasn't in it for the right reasons. In Loki Jed saw the same lust for power that had always been present whenever democracy was threatened throughout history. He wasn't interested in leading the country to a better place, or improving the lives of everyday Americans. They were just a means to Loki's end. He was interested in the power of the job title.

Jed missed the days when no matter the differences between political parties & platforms, the goal was always a to make America better. Even though those days were long gone, & both parties decided long ago that it was always better to bring a gun to a knife fight, he wasn't about to let the spirit the founded the country go with it.

Leo came to stand next to Jed. He clasped his hands in front of him & stood in silence with his long time friend. Finally turning to him & saying "You know he's not gonna play clean sir. Not after what he pulled the other day. Are you sure you still want to have this debate? No one would fault you sir. He basically brainwashed & kidnapped the vice president for fucks sake!"

"It's not about how I feel Leo, & it's not about John Hoynes' Stockholm syndrome either. It's about doing the right thing to preserve the honor of the office of the presidency." Jed turned his head to look directly at his Chief of Staff. "As long as I am the President of The United States we will take the high road. Even if the rest of Congress has resorted to wrestling in the mud on the Capitol Hill. The founding fathers thought better of us."

"Cancelling this debate under these circumstances, & when we still have one more, hardly seems like the something the founding fathers would even blink about." Frustration becoming evident in Leo's voice.

"Leo, I said no." Jed said firmly. Leo knew when there was no changing his mind, even when it was the wrong decision. "Now, go peel Josh off of the ceiling & wrangle the rest of the kids. I want them ready to hit the spin room as soon as I'm off stage. Have Josh do the exit polls."

With that President Bartlet turned & stepped out onto the debate stage. The moderator had taken his seat & the countdown had begun. As they shook hands this time Jed's warm smile had been replaced by a firm authoritative stare. He was still the president, & at least for now the well-being of the county was in his hands.

Loki had the smile of a serpent, & a shimmer of ferocity in his eyes as they locked hands. His every mannerism reading as the antithesis to that of the elder statesman across from him. For Jed his act was getting a little old. As they turned to walk to their individual podiums he caught eyes with Leo & made an overexxaggerated eye roll.

The two candidates took their places & the moderator began to speak.

“Good evening, & welcome to the 2nd debate for this year’s U.S. Presidential election. The participants are President Josiah Bartlet, & Mr. Loki Laufeyson. I am Chris Wallace your moderator. The topics this evening will all be pertaining to foreign policy. The format for the debate is as follows, & has been agreed to by both campaigns. Each candidate will make a 2 minute opening statement. The debate will then be divided into 6 segments, each 14 minutes long. At the beginning of each segment I will ask both candidates the same lead-off question & they will each have up to 2 minutes to respond, we will then move into open discussion for the rest of the time allotted. At the end of the debate each candidate will be given 2 minutes to make a closing statement. President Bartlet, you won the coin toss, so you will be the 1st to offer your responses this evening. Your opening statement please.”

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“In an ever changing & growing world, & with the recent discovery of the existence of worlds & species beyond our own, the topic of defense has seen a surge on lists of top voter concerns. As President, how would you address other countries & planets posing a potential threat to the safety of Earth & the United States?”

President Bartlet cleared his throat & began to speak. “The world of today is without a doubt very different than the world I grew up in, but shockingly some things always stay the same. Things are never really black or white, people are never really all bad or all good. In fact bad people cannot be recognized on site, trust me we’ve been trying to figure out how to do that for at least the last 70 years. So in the face of an someone who you don’t know is friend or foe, the best option is always to try to get them to take a seat at the table. Diplomacy is always the first job of a true statesman. While defending our country through a strong well funded military is an important necessity, a proper defense includes more than weapons. It includes funding for science, foreign aid, & open trade policy. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, & you make more friends with a handshake than a weapon.”

Loki smiled. Of course Bartlet would try to take the high ground, he was just too easy to predict, & he had played right into Loki’s hand. “Growing up in Asgard, we knew the true power our mighty kingdom was capable of. The realms around us were well aware of this too. Not because of the fairness of our laws, or how dedicated we were to our education system. They knew what we were capable of because of the force we displayed for the universe to see. That is the answer. To display the might this country is capable of for the rest of the world & the universe to see. To use that force with ease & fearlessness when called upon to prove that this country is truly worthy. As has been done throughout the history of this great nation. It is rather adorable that you, dear Jed, believe a few kind words & gestures will sooth the anger of those bent on taking what they feel is owed to them. After all an ant has no quarrel with a boot, but nothing it says can change the outcome. Would you rather be positioned as the ant? Or the boot?”

Jed was now beginning to struggle to stay evenly keeled. “Ah well I must be terribly mistaken then, because I seem to remember President Teddy Roosevelt saying ‘Speak softly, & carry a big stick’ not ‘hit everything in a mile wide radius with a big stick then you wont have to bother with the talking’. Guess there must have been a different version on Asgard huh?… & by the way, it’s Mr. President to you.”

“The thing is, Mr. President , it’s the unspoken truth that species crave subjugation. They were made to be ruled. In the end, someone will always kneel. If I am leader we will never be the ones on bended knee.” Loki felt his adrenaline rush through him, as president they would all kneel before him even if by force. Midgardian & alien alike.

“America should never expect, nor should we invite confrontation with evil. A man who spent his life fighting for a cause far more just than superiority once said that ‘The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral. Returning violence with violence only multiples violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.’ Do you know who said that?” Jed felt as if he was now pleading for people to see reason, to recognize the madness in Loki’s eyes & in his words.

“The words of the past hardly matter when the weight of the future is at your doorstep. On this issue it does seem that there are many people who disagree with your dated beliefs. How lucky for them to have me to vote for.” Loki let out a devious laugh at his own comment.

“The job is President of The United States. Not ‘President of The People Who Agree With Me’. Since I know we are just about out of time I’ll just go ahead & tell you, not that I expect you knew anyway. That quote, was by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

“Okay gentleman. That is time. We are now left we just our closing statements. Each of you will have 2 minutes, beginning with you President Bartlet. That will bring our evening to a close & put the 2nd debate of this presidential election in the books leaving just 1 left to go. Mr. President, your 2 minutes begins now.”

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Jed stood backstage angry & with his heart breaking. Not for himself or his candidacy, but for his country. He already knew what the exit polls from the debate would look like, he didn’t need to wait for a mid-meltdown Josh to come & tell him. As far as the voters would be concerned, he had lost that debate. They would say he looked weak & old next to Loki. Loki was blood thirsty & hellbent on power, but all the voters would see was the way he raged about defending America’s place in the world. Most of them wouldn’t see past the bravado & vitriol far enough to see the danger he posed beneath the surface.

His campaign was already behind coming into the debate thanks to the VP’s surprise announcement that he would now be running as Loki’s VP candidate instead. With Loki’s debate performance added on top of that they would hemorrhaging support if they couldn’t get a new VP candidate & quick. Jed quickly beckoned Leo over & had him call a meeting of all the campaign staff for first thing in the morning. They were now at campaign defcon 1.

After hearing Loki’s words tonight Jed could no longer fight the ominous sinking feeling that this was now about something far more important than re-election. This was about the survival of democracy.

[shystoryrebel]

BRAVE RAJPUT AND THE TREACHEROUS EMPEROUR

This popular tale is related with the brave, loyal but simple Maharaja of Jodhpur Maharaja Jaswant Singh, his nine faithful ranis and deceitful Mugal emperor Aurangzeb.  According to the Hindu Calendar the month of Kwar comes after the monsoon season is over. There is a very popular tale related with this month. A former priest from famous Hindu temple Nathdwara in Udaipur, Rajasthan, narrated this tale to a person. The priest came to Delhi some decades ago. Although, this tale seems very strange, but it narrates the bravery and loyalty of Rajputs on the one side and narrates the treachery of Mugal emperor Aurangzeb on the other side.

  The story is related with the nine faithful Ranis and valiant Maharaja Jaswant Singh who was the Maharaja of Jodhpur and who was a very brave and important Senapati of Mugal emperor Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb appointed Maharaja Jaswant Singh as governor of Jamrud, which is now in Islamic Pakistan. Incidentally Maharaja Jaswant Singh took his last breath in Kabul.

  Few months before his death, the Maharaja visited Delhi and met the Muhal emperor Auranzeb. Whenever Maharaja visited Delhi, he never missed to pay his obeisance to famous Hanuman temple built by Swai Man Singh, the Maharaja of Jaipur and very famous senapati and one of the Navratnas of Mugal emperor Akbar.    

  This famous and ancient Hanuman temple is situated near another famous monument the Jamtar Mantar, on Baba Kharag Singh Marg. But during the days of Mugal emperor Aurangzeb, it was almost in wilderness and ruins near the Raisina hills, like any other Hindu temple, of that period. The only human habitant near the temple was the palace of Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber.

  Maharaja Jaswat Singh used to stay in Chandni Chowk. Later on he started to stay in the famous haveli of a bania trader, which was converted by Sikhs in Gurdwara Bangla Sahib. The Maharaja had come to know that the high priest of the Hanuman Temple can forecast about the future of someone with great exactness by just reading the lines of the hands of a person. The priest was very old and frail but his eyes and personality had the shining and burning aura of a saint who has passion of devotion. His tangled hair was curved up on his head like the hood of a serpent.

  Maharaja Jaswant Singh had come to meet the priest with expensive gifts, carried by a number of men. As it was the characteristic of Hindu clergy men to renounce worldly pleasures, he refused to accept the gift but finally accepted them to honor the Maharaja and not to dishearten him.

  The Maharaja revealed the reason of his call and opened his palm to the seer, priest. It was the month of Kwar, according to Hindu calendar and the time was late afternoon or before evening. The priest observed the lines of the majestic palm very deeply and from many angles. After studying the palm for several minutes the frail priest asked the Maharaja to go back to his palace and not to worry about his future. But Maharaja became adamant that without knowing the future he would not go back.

  On this the priest said with a sigh that this was his last visit to Delhi and he would die in a far-away land and far away from your motherland and no near and dear ones would be present with you when you breath your last. Again the priest said that fate cannot be challenged but you refuse to accept the emperor’s offer of governorship in a remote hilly state but retire and settle in your native State.

  With a very heavy heart and gloomy face the Maharaja heard the prediction of the priest and returned to the Walled City of Delhi. Next day he met Aurangzeb and told him that he was not interested in the governorship of Jamrud. Perturbed on this refusal, the emperor asked the reason. The Maharaja feigned that his nine ranis now want him to shun the army career of bloodbath and settle down in Jodhpur peacefully. He hid the prediction told by the priest of the Hanuman Temple who has advised him to decline the offer and not to go to that far away region.

  The emperor was very cunning and shrewd. He knew it very well that it was only the chivalry and leadership qualities of Maharaja Jaswant Singh which can control and tame the bloody and violent Afghan warlords. Aurangzeb has great persuasive power. He used his best to befool the simple, honest and loyal Maharaja. Cajoling the hand of Maharaja, Aurangzeb promised to the Maharaja that this would be his last assignment; he would give to his brave Rajput friend who had been very loyal to him who once defeated unconquerable Maratha warlord Chatrapati Shivaji in a very decisive battle in 1665 while commanding the Mugal forces.  

  The wolf minded emperor knew that the strategically important and notorious Jamrud and its barbarous habitants can be controlled and ruled only by a man of the Maharaja’s competence. He further assured him that he will be recalled as the hazard of any possible invasion is receded. Failed to understand the trick, the brave and loyal Maharaja could not say no to his friend and to this challenging task and after few days left for Jamrud, but never to return.  

  The Maharaja did not take his nine ranis with him and assured them of his early return within few months. He asked his ranis to stay at Agra where the Maharaja had a palace. As the priest predicted Maharaja Jaswant Singh died at Kabul and his body could not be brought to his native place and was cremated there and his nine ranis committed sati on the banks of river Yamuna, where a chhatri or a canopy was constructed as the memorial of great, loyal and brave Maharaja.  

  However there is another tale linked with the family of Maharaja after his death. It says that two of his ranis were pregnant and did not commit sati to save the lives of yet to born children and traveled to Lahore at the emperor’s behest. There both the ranis were blessed by a son each. The treacherous emperor said that he wanted to bring up one of them. The intelligent and strong character ranis substituted for the Maharaja’s posthumous son with another infant boy and quickly returned to their native place to save their chastity. Actually dirty mentality Aurangzeb had in his mind to keep a rajput rani in his harem.  He thought that if he got the charge of a son of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, his one of the ranis would naturally live with him as his dasi.

  It is also said that Rani Hada, wife of legendry Amar Singh Rathore who slay uncultured and ill mouthed Salahat Khan, cousin of Nur Jahan, at the court of Shah Jahan in 1644, committed sati at the same chhattri constructed in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh. Every year in the month of Kwar the hereditary temple priest of historical Nathdwara Temple, visits the famous Chhattri to perform puja and follow the almost 350 years old tradition to honor the brave Maharaja, his nine virtuous and faithful ranis and Rani Hada. Unfortunately in this secular nation Aurangzeb is remembered as a great emperor and no body remembers The Maharaja, his nine ranis, Amar singh Rathore and Rani Handa.

  This story gives a message that Hindu are in general and Rajputs in particular were victims of their own wrong decisions and misplaced loyalties. For centuries they remained loyal to Muslim rulers and in return got Hindus and Rajputs slaughtered, plundered and women raped. After Muslims they worked for Christian rulers of England and again they were very brutally treated. Again after independent they vote for secularist and again they are oppressed. According to Chanakya a race tolerant and apathetic cannot survive for long. It is bound to perish. It is a sigh of death and decay.

  In the Srimad Bhagvad Gita Lord Krishna advises Arjuna to fight and annihilate the sinners and wrong doers. It does not mean that Krishna is supporting the validity of war. War happens to be the occasion to clean the society of sinners. But Hindus take pacifist attitude like Arjuna, before the war, and do not take any decisive step to protect them. In the name of tolerance, non-violence they are become highly apathetic even to all the crimes committed against them. Maharaja Jaswant Singh was a victim of error of judgment and paid very heavily and lost his life and his wives narrowly escaped by being raped by the Mogul King Aurangzeb. Hindus like Arjuna take a suicidal human view of the situation which represents the extreme of non violence and tolerance and ignore the harsh reality in the name of tolerance and non-violence. We must fight against what is wrong.  

  Source: 1-R.V.SMITH in, The Times of India, New Delhi.

            2-Srimad Bhagavad Gita

[acoolchristianchick2]

Jesus told us to be a shrewd as a snake but a meek as a dove.

My interpretation was that it meant to be harmless but yet to be able to be “street smart”. 

What I mean is that being able to maneuver through the world but following God. Being a warrior in a Godly way.  Jesus was a loving person but he wasn’t stupid. When needed he was aggressive as when he threw over the tables in the tabernacle. Just because he is Christ, don’t view him as weak. He is not.

This is an article I read: (got questions.org)

Jesus was using similes (figures of speech that compare two unlike things) to instruct His disciples in how to behave in their ministry. Just before He tells them to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, He warns them that they were being sent out “like sheep among wolves.” The world, then as now, was hostile to believers—not incidentally hostile, but purposefully hostile. Wolves are intentional about the harm they inflict upon sheep. In such an environment, the question becomes: “How can we advance the kingdom of God effectively without becoming predatory ourselves?” Jesus taught His followers that, to be Christlike in a godless world, they must combine the wisdom of the serpent with the harmlessness of the dove. In using these similes, Jesus invokes the common proverbial view of serpents and doves. The serpent was “subtle” or “crafty” or “shrewd” in Genesis 3:1. The dove, on the other hand, was thought of as innocent and harmless—doves were listed among the “clean animals” and were used for sacrifices (Leviticus 14:22). To this very day, doves are used as symbols of peace, and snakes are thought of as “sneaky.” Nineteenth-century pastor Charles Simeon provides a wonderful comment on the serpent and dove imagery: “Now the wisdom of the one and the harmlessness of the other are very desirable to be combined in the Christian character; because it is by such an union only that the Christian will be enabled to cope successfully with his more powerful enemies” (Horae Homileticae: Matthew, Vol. 11, London: Holdsworth and Ball, p. 318). Most people don’t mind having their character compared to a dove’s purity and innocence. But some people recoil at the image of a serpent, no matter what the context. They can never see a snake in a good light, even when used by Jesus as a teaching tool. But we should not make too much of the simile. We cannot attach the evil actions of Satan (as the serpent) with the serpent itself. Animals are not moral entities. The creature itself cannot perform sin, and shrewdness is an asset, not a defect. This is the quality that Jesus told His disciples to model. The serpent simile stands in Jesus’ dialogue without bringing forward any of the serpent’s pejoratives. It is a basic understanding in language that, when a speaker creates a simile, he is not necessarily invoking the entire potential of the words he has chosen—nor is he invoking the entire history and tenor of the linguistic vehicle. Rather, the speaker is defining a fresh relationship between the two things. A quick look at Matthew 10:16 shows that Jesus was invoking only the positive aspects of the serpent. There is no hint of His unloading Edenic baggage upon His disciples. He simply tells them to be wise (and innocent) as they represented Him. When Jesus told the Twelve to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves, He laid down a general principle about the technique of kingdom work. As we take the gospel to a hostile world, we must be wise (avoiding the snares set for us), and we must be innocent (serving the Lord blamelessly). Jesus was not suggesting that we stoop to deception but that we should model some of the serpent’s famous shrewdness in a positive way. Wisdom does not equal dishonesty, and innocence does not equal gullibility. Let us consider Jesus as exemplar: the Lord was known as a gentle person. Indeed, Scripture testifies that He would not even quench a smoking flax (Matthew 12:20). But was He always (and only) gentle? No. When the occasion demanded it, He took whip in hand and chased the moneychangers out of the temple (John 2:15). Jesus’ extraordinarily rare action, seen in light of His usual mien, demonstrates the power of using a combination of tools. This “dove-like” Man of Innocence spoke loudly and clearly with His assertiveness in the temple. In His more typical moments, Jesus showed that He was as wise as a serpent in the way He taught. He knew enough to discern the differences in His audiences (a critical skill), He used the story-telling technique to both feed and weed (Matthew 13:10–13), and He refused to be caught in the many traps that His enemies laid for Him (Mark 8:11; 10:2; 12:13). Jesus showed that He was as harmless as a dove in every circumstance. He lived a pure and holy life (Hebrews 4:15), He acted in compassion (Matthew 9:36), and He challenged anyone to find fault in Him (John 8:46; 18:23). Three times, Pilate judged Jesus to be an innocent man (John 18:38; 19:4, 6). The apostle Paul also modeled the “wise as serpents, harmless as doves” technique. Paul lived in dove-like innocence in good conscience before God (Acts 23:1) and learned to deny his carnal desires so as not to jeopardize his ministry (1 Corinthians 9:27). But Paul also displayed serpent-like shrewdness when he needed it. He knew his legal rights and used the legal system to his advantage (Acts 16:37; 22:25; 25:11). He also carefully crafted his speeches to maximize the impact on his audience (Acts 17:22–23; 23:6–8). In Matthew 10:16, Jesus taught us how to optimize our gospel-spreading opportunities. Successful Christian living requires that we strike the optimal balance between the dove and the serpent. We should strive to be gentle without being pushovers, and we must be sacrificial without being taken advantage of. We are aware of the unscrupulous tactics used by the enemy, but we take the high road. Peter admonishes us, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:12).

[dmitri-smerdyakov]

Fantastic Beasts Characters + Hogwarts Sorting

I’ve found it really interesting to hear what people think about where the characters from FBAWTFT would be sorted if they had gone to Hogwarts, and I just thought I’d share my own headcanons/thoughts.

(I’ve used the Potter Wiki and Pottermore to make some judgements)

Tina – Gryffindor

Maybe I am biased because I’m a Gryffindor myself, but also because I genuinely think Tina would have made a pretty good Gryffindor. Bravery – yep. Chivalry – I personally think she does. She acts rather brashly at times, possibly without thinking: hexing No-Majs to protect a young boy, even though she knew the law, for example. Things like that remind me of how Harry behaves in the Potter books, rushing into danger and wanting to protect other people.

A few people have said that Tina could be a Slytherin (because she’s ambitious etc), but I disagree; Slytherins tend to think before acting, weighing out their options, which Tina didn’t seem to do when she on-a-whim hexed Mary Lou. Slytherins are also cunning, which means “achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion”, which I don’t think Tina does.

Queenie – Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw

Obviously Queenie is very sweet and lovely and kind – Hufflepuffs are the most inclusive house, they turn out the fewest Dark wizards, and they’re very down-to-earth and home-y, I feel. Having said that, because of her Legilimency, I can see Queenie being a Ravenclaw because she’s smart and knows how to use her powers; she’s a quick thinker, sharp-witted, and creative too (creativity is listed as a Ravenclaw trait on the wiki), as we can see by the fact she loves baking/cooking, and we know she mends her own clothes as well as owning haberdashery equipment, so maybe she even makes her own clothes from time to time?

Jacob – Hufflepuff

I genuinely think Jacob is a perfect example of a Hufflepuff; he’s a loyal friend, loves to bake, loves people, wants to make people happy… He just strikes me as being a perfect Hufflepuff. I can imagine, if he’d been a wizard, that he would have been in the kitchens often and helping the house elves cook, maybe even baking pastries for the younger students.

Graves – Slytherin

Admittedly, we haven’t actually seen original Graves, but we can assume that the way Grindel!Graves behaved early in the film was at least somewhat similar to how real!Graves acted because otherwise he wouldn’t have fitted in/gone unnoticed. I feel like original!Graves might have been ambitious, probably cunning, and we know he was most likely a strong leader, which is a Slytherin trait according to the wiki.

Picquery – Slytherin or Ravenclaw

I think Picquery could be viewed as ambitious, she’s certainly got to have some strategic talent because she was elected as President, she’s formidable and Pottermore confirms that Picqery is a strong leader. She was chosen by all four houses at Ilvermorny, and she chose Horned Serpent – which represents the mind of the witch or wizard, favouring scholars. Because of this, I think she could have been a Ravenclaw or a Slytherin because both houses seem to value traits associated with the mind.

Credence - ???

Credence is the hardest one to place because we just don’t know who he might be, who he would have been if he hadn’t been abused. At the moment, I’m leaning towards Slytherin or Hufflepuff – mostly Slytherin because of the whole “self-preservation” thing. We’ll have to see what his personality is in the next film(s), I think!

*

Other characters I felt like placing for no reason:

Henry Shaw Sr/Henry Shaw Jr – Slytherin. They’re ambitious, kinda cunning, obviously strong leadership skills because of the whole Senator thing.

Langdon Shaw – Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Just because I think it would make sense if he was in a different house to his family. Langdon’s kind of a mess though, so IDK what his personality traits are. The wiki said he has “a proclivity for wild ideas”, which makes me think he could be a Gryffindor or Ravenclaw.

Mary Lou – Slytherin or maybe even Gryffindor. I’m not saying this because of the stereotype but because she has leadership skills (being the leader of the NSPS). She’s quite shrewd, I feel, she’s intelligent – she has a presence that means she holds attention even when she’s quiet/not shouting. Alternatively, she could be Ravenclaw because of intelligence, but I do think Slytherin fits in the sense that she knows what she wants and how to get it/how to be a leader...but she could also maybe be an evil Gryffindor??? It’s hard to say :O.

[emekrus]

Understanding Divine Wisdom

Human beings all over the world, from different circles of life, have their own definitions of wisdom. But the greater percentage of what many hold as wisdom, is what the bible refers to as conceited wisdom. The married man or woman who has extra-marital affairs, with the notion that the taste of only one type of soup is not enough, believes he/she is operating in wisdom. The beautiful lady who goes about trading her body sexually for money, with the notion that she is using what she has to get what she wants; believes also that she is walking in wisdom. The young man who uses the internet and other media to trick and scam people into frustration believes also that he is smart or walking in wisdom. Just to mention but a few of the conceited wisdom mankind operate in. And to this group of people walking or operating in this kind of conceited wisdom, the word of God says; “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him”—Proverbs 26:12 Given this backdrop, we want to scripturally study what true wisdom or divine wisdom actually mean. So people can actually pursue and apply it in every area of life. What Is Divine Wisdom? Scripturally, there are mainly four definitions of wisdom. And we will be considering them one after the other. The Fear of God: “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living… And unto man he said, behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding”—Job 28:12-13; 28. The above scripture defines wisdom— divine wisdom—as the fear of God. Then again the word of God tells us in Psalm 111:10 that;“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom”. Hence, according to scriptures, divine wisdom can simply be defined as the “Fear of God”. Thoughtfulness: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves” – Matthew 10:16. The word wise as translated in the above scripture is from the Greek word: ‘phronimos’ meaning; ‘thoughtfulness’. In order words, sagacity, discretion, shrewdness, astuteness, cleverness, cunningness or subtlety (in a good sense), etc. The Lord admonished his disciples to engage this type of wisdom as he sent them out to preach the gospel. He admonished them to be as wise as the serpent and harmless as dove.And of course, what Jesus says to one, he says to all. This same injunction of the Lord also applies to us Christians today. We also need this divine wisdom in the discharge of our great commission; in order to record substantial results.The Apostle Paul employed this aspect of wisdom in his Evangelical work. He says; to them that are under the Law, became as a man under the law. And unto them that are without the law, he became as a man without the law. To the intent that he might by all means save some (1 Corinthians 9:20-22).And of course, this being wise as serpent, is shrewdness. It is definitely cleverness or sagacity. And we must as well employ this wisdom in our ministry and every area of life, for maximum success. Intellectual Insight: “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord”—Luke 1:17The word translated in the above scripture as wisdom is from the Greek word; “phronesis” meaning; intellectual or moral insight. The same word is also translated in the New Testament in some other context as prudence.Hence, this gives us a third definition of divine wisdom to mean divinely inspired, intellectual or moral insight. In order words, understanding or prudence. This particular definition of wisdom, do merit distinction from the second definition of wisdom we had already considered, ‘phronimos’.So intellectual or moral insight, inspired by God, is also divine wisdom. Love or Word Practice: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” John 14:21“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it”—Matthew 7: 24-27.In the first scripture above (John 14:21) the Lord defines love as having and keeping his commandments. Then the second scripture (Matthew 7:24-27), the Lord again says whosoever hears his sayings and does them, he would liken to a wise man. Hence, we can define divine wisdom as well as the Love of God or the practice of God’s word. And I believe, just the same way as the word of God says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, the Love of God is the climax of wisdom. So there you have it. The above definitions are the meaning of divine wisdom. And the Lord will have us walk in all the above four aspects of divine wisdom to the glory of his Holy Name. Read the full article